For many years, the treatment of cancer has been very difficult because of the way disease survives by masking itself from the immune system.

Dr. Matthias Gromeier an associate at Duke, created a genetically modified version of Polio virus specifically designed to reproduce itself only inside of cancer cells.

After injection of the Polio virus into infected area, the immune system becomes aware of cancerous cells and begins to attack them. In the interview with Dr. Gromeier he mentioned that in a lab setting this approach was effective with multiple types of cancer cells.

Clinical trials show positive results to a point of eradicating cancer in some patients. As this is only the first phase of trials by volunteers, the results will vary from patient to patient.

I can’t even imagine what it’s like to deal with cancer, but I sure hope that future holds the cure we desperately need.